For the sixth straight year, the Capitol campus will go dark in support of “Earth Hour,” an international environmental campaign sponsored by the World Wildlife Fund.

On Saturday, March 29, from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. local time, nonessential lights on the state Capitol campus will go dark. “Everyone can take steps to reduce their impact on the environment,” said Mrs. Beshear. “I encourage all Kentuckians to turn off their lights in support of Earth Hour. Each of us can do small things everyday – such as ride a bike to work or set their home thermostat down while not at home. Small things add up.”

Under Gov. Beshear, his administration has been reducing energy use in government buildings, which is a key part of “Intelligent Energy Choices for Kentucky’s Future.” This strategic blueprint set aggressive goals for state facilities to reduce their energy consumption by 15 percent by 2015 and 25 percent by 2025. Beyond 2025, public facilities will reduce their carbon footprint by 50 percent.

Earth Hour began in 2007 in Sydney, Australia. Earth Hour has expanded to more than 7,000 cities and towns on all seven continents with hundreds of millions of participants across the world.